Page 1578 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 19 May 1993
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at the motion by Mr Humphries, that it is highly likely that no Minister will ever be able to give an explanation of a delay in answering a question that would satisfy members opposite. I believe that in those circumstances it would be Mr Humphries's intention simply to exploit the matter in a political fashion, rather than to seek to get an adequate answer or to seek to get the full information that the questioner had asked for. So I do reiterate my concern; the motion, in my view, is not necessary.
I would also like again to say to members that I think there is a capacity for this kind of hard and fast rule to jeopardise the Government's efficient use of its resources. I do understand, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, that members have many questions to ask, and of course they have a right to the information; but I do believe that there is a capacity, if we were to adopt this course of action, for questions to tie up the resources of government to an extent that may not be acceptable and that may not allow the Government to get on with its business. I would seek an assurance from members opposite who are speaking on this matter that that is not their intention, and I would seek an assurance from them that, where there is a delay in answering the question, a Minister's response or a Minister's explanation will be accepted. I think it is only fair that those questions be asked of members supporting this motion, because it seems inevitable to me that if the Assembly adopts this motion it will lead to situations where questions simply cannot be answered within a month. As I have already indicated, last year when the matter was debated, and again today, there was a very small number of questions which could not be answered within a month.
What will happen, Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, is that a member, on being provided with an interim reply and/or an explanation as to why the matter cannot be handled within a month, may be called upon or may be requested to rephrase the question. If that is the case, again I seek an assurance from members opposite that they will be cooperative in those circumstances. As I say, it is quite inevitable that from time to time a question will not be able to be answered within a month. If I could give one example, before the last Federal election Mr Kaine asked me an extremely lengthy and detailed question about the effects of the GST on the ACT economy. Putting together a response to that question utilised a significant amount of my Treasury resources, and in the event I was not able to provide Mr Kaine with a response until after the Federal election. I deeply regret that. Mr Kaine does not.
Mr Kaine: So do I.
MS FOLLETT: Mr Kaine does not, because it is a simple fact that the effects of the GST on the ACT economy would have been absolutely devastating. The answer to the question demonstrated that. That is an example of the kind of question where the information has to be especially sought, has to be especially collated, has to be assessed and estimated in order to provide some sort of a rigorous basis for the response to the questioner.
Madam Temporary Deputy Speaker, as I say, it is inevitable, if this motion is adopted, that the Assembly runs the risk of having questioners requested to rephrase their question in such a way that it can be dealt with more readily. It also will lead, I believe, to a situation where a Minister, having explained a delay, which in the Minister's view is a quite reasonable explanation, is then
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